City deal funds key infrastructure for 2,500 homes in East Kilbride

More than 2,500 new homes are set to be built in East Kilbride now that key infrastructure funding has been agreed as part the £1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal.

A new school, extensions/improvements to existing schools and road upgrades will also be funded as part of the East Kilbride Community Growth Area (CGA).

The initial investment in the CGA will be £34 million with £11.6 million coming from city deal funding.

John Ross, leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We believe as many as 8,500 residents could move into the CGA, living in new, high-quality, affordable homes, which includes social housing.

“This will bring massive opportunities for the local economy, by creating new jobs, supporting unemployed people into work, leveraging private sector investment and spreading the benefits of economic growth.”

Of the homes that will be built, there will be 294 affordable homes within the CGA location, and another 294 affordable homes delivered outside the CGA boundary.

As well as local highway improvements, money will be spent on a park-and-ride facility at Hairmyres rail station and on upgrading cycle networks.

The outline business case for the East Kilbride CGA will now go to the city deal cabinet for approval.